Children’s food advertising complaints at historic lows

Complaints in relation to advertising food and beverages to children are at historic lows according to the Australian Advertising Standards Bureau.

The Bureau said complaints to the Advertising Standards Board have been at historic lows since 2012. Complaints regarding advertisements of food and beverages to children jumped to 6.35 per cent of all complaints received in 2011, but quickly dropped back down the next year. In 2015, all complaints related to advertising food and beverages to children only accounted for 0.76 per cent of all complaints.

Complaints related to quick-service-restaurant advertising targeting children also spiked in 2011, accounting for 1.48 per cent of all complaints. In 2015, these types of complaints only accounted for 0.17 per cent of total complaints.

The Bureau reported that between 2011 and 2015 submissions regarding discrimination, sex, sexuality and nudity accounted for the highest percentage of complaints lodged.

Sex, sexuality and nudity accounted for 27.32 per cent of concerns, with discrimination and vilification accounting for 15.7 per cent.